Getting down to the wire...

BellBoy · 05-08-2006, 05:39 PM

I just crossed the 3k mark on the odo (after 2 months) and was starting to think about giving ol Troy a call to pick up the extended warranty and maint. warranty.

I just wanted to get any new (or old) thoughts on whether or not the MW is a good deal or too restrictive to be worth it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

tochatihu · 05-08-2006, 11:54 PM

Extended warranty generates strong opinions. Some "sleep better" with it, others perceive it (on a group level) as a sure winner for the seller.

I bought EW with 2001 Prius. Things were a little different way back then; we did not know as much. Were I buying a Prius today I would not get the EW.

Paying in advance for maintenance is something that I would not do. Over time my "DIY level" has increased. This is a good thing because it helps you be attuned in case any small problems develop.

daniel · 05-09-2006, 09:32 AM

My personal opinion is that the extended warranty is a losing gamble. But as tochatihu says, some people sleep easier with it.

I think a pre-paid maintenance agreement has to be bought from a particular dealer, and means you are stuck with that dealer. If you move or become dissatisfied with their service quality, you lose big. The extended warranty does not cover routine maintenance.

richard schumacher · 05-09-2006, 10:21 AM

Like Daniel says. Extended warranties are insurance: they are priced to make a profit for the seller (the dealer), not the buyer (you). If you can stay prepared to make a cash outlay that will probably never be necessary, then you will almost certainly save money by *not* buying an extended warranty.

As for pre-paid maintenance: would you buy pre-paid dental care? If you find out that you don't like what you're getting, or if you move, you're stuck.

Betelgeuse · 05-09-2006, 10:50 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ May 9 2006, 09:32 AM) [snapback]252078[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I think a pre-paid maintenance agreement has to be bought from a particular dealer, and means you are stuck with that dealer. If you move or become dissatisfied with their service quality, you lose big.
[/b]

I think this is not true (i.e. that you're stuck with a specific dealer). My understanding was that you get Toyota certificates and that most dealers accept them.

OTOH, I still wouldn't (and didn't) get the prepaid maitenance. If you do the math, it's not clear that it's worth it, even if you go to the dealer for all of your service intervals.

BellBoy · 05-09-2006, 12:21 PM

Seems like a lot of "con" positions out there...any on the "pro" side to balance out the conversation?

Amyshubby · 05-09-2006, 01:53 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BellBoy @ May 8 2006, 05:39 PM) [snapback]251731[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I just crossed the 3k mark on the odo (after 2 months) and was starting to think about giving ol Troy a call to pick up the extended warranty and maint. warranty.

I just wanted to get any new (or old) thoughts on whether or not the MW is a good deal or too restrictive to be worth it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
[/b]

Why are you down to the wire? I thought the extended warranty can be added anytime within the intitial 3 yr/36,000 miles.

BellBoy · 05-09-2006, 06:28 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Amyshubby @ May 9 2006, 10:53 AM) [snapback]252242[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Why are you down to the wire? I thought the extended warranty can be added anytime within the intitial 3 yr/36,000 miles.
[/b]

Yes for the extended warranty, but for the maint. warranty it has to be purchased before 4k.

gnagel · 05-10-2006, 10:05 AM

I bought both the prepaid maintenance and the extended warranty from my dealer.

The prepaid maintance was $645 for the 4 year plan. It's good at any Toyota dealership.

The extended warranty was $990 for the 7 year/100k miles plan. If I don't end up using it, I'm entitled to a full refund. And, I got that in writing.

brasche · 05-10-2006, 10:56 AM

My Opinion (and action). Get the warranty, skip the maint. It takes just one failure over 7 years (MFD, inverter, A/C, etc). The high cost of repairs reported on PC should be enough to convince you of it's value.

MHO, Brian

BTW, a $1.5k warranty paid for ~3k repairs on our NSX (again very expensive to repair due to it's uniqueness)

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05-08-2006, 05:39 PM	#1
BellBoy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 198 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I just crossed the 3k mark on the odo (after 2 months) and was starting to think about giving ol Troy a call to pick up the extended warranty and maint. warranty. I just wanted to get any new (or old) thoughts on whether or not the MW is a good deal or too restrictive to be worth it. Any thoughts? Thanks!

05-08-2006, 11:54 PM	#2
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 1,829 My Car: 2001 Prius Package: Pioneer #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	Extended warranty generates strong opinions. Some "sleep better" with it, others perceive it (on a group level) as a sure winner for the seller. I bought EW with 2001 Prius. Things were a little different way back then; we did not know as much. Were I buying a Prius today I would not get the EW. Paying in advance for maintenance is something that I would not do. Over time my "DIY level" has increased. This is a good thing because it helps you be attuned in case any small problems develop.

05-09-2006, 09:32 AM	#3
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,151 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My personal opinion is that the extended warranty is a losing gamble. But as tochatihu says, some people sleep easier with it. I think a pre-paid maintenance agreement has to be bought from a particular dealer, and means you are stuck with that dealer. If you move or become dissatisfied with their service quality, you lose big. The extended warranty does not cover routine maintenance.

05-09-2006, 10:21 AM	#4
richard schumacher billeous ileum Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,135 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Like Daniel says. Extended warranties are insurance: they are priced to make a profit for the seller (the dealer), not the buyer (you). If you can stay prepared to make a cash outlay that will probably never be necessary, then you will almost certainly save money by not buying an extended warranty. As for pre-paid maintenance: would you buy pre-paid dental care? If you find out that you don't like what you're getting, or if you move, you're stuck.

05-09-2006, 12:21 PM	#6
BellBoy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 198 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Seems like a lot of "con" positions out there...any on the "pro" side to balance out the conversation?

05-10-2006, 10:05 AM	#9
gnagel Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 72 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I bought both the prepaid maintenance and the extended warranty from my dealer. The prepaid maintance was $645 for the 4 year plan. It's good at any Toyota dealership. The extended warranty was $990 for the 7 year/100k miles plan. If I don't end up using it, I'm entitled to a full refund. And, I got that in writing.

05-10-2006, 10:56 AM	#10
brasche Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 156 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My Opinion (and action). Get the warranty, skip the maint. It takes just one failure over 7 years (MFD, inverter, A/C, etc). The high cost of repairs reported on PC should be enough to convince you of it's value. MHO, Brian BTW, a $1.5k warranty paid for ~3k repairs on our NSX (again very expensive to repair due to it's uniqueness)